Originally a 1967 model , it's shape and design changed over the years. GM eventually discontinued production after the 2002 model year. 2010 Camaro production began in Oshawa, Ontario on March 16, 2009. The 6th generation Camaro will make a return back to American soil in 2015. Assembly will be at the Grand River Plant in Lansing, Michigan.

The segment-leading Chevrolet Camaro opens a new chapter as the 2011 Camaro convertible premieres at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The new convertible begins production in January and goes on sale in February. It includes an enhanced body structure and well-tailored top mechanism – a combination designed to deliver sports coupe-like driving fun and precise quality.

“The launch of the new convertible opens Camaro design and performance to a new set of potential customers,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. “The 21st century revival of Camaro is tremendously popular, so it’s a natural to now expand and elevate the product range in new directions.”

The convertible will be offered in similar model configurations as the Camaro coupe. The standard model will have a 312-horsepower direct injection V-6 engine delivering 29 mpg highway. The SS model will feature the 6.2L V-8 engine producing 426 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission will be standard, with an optional six-speed automatic.

Camaro seized leadership in U.S. sales in its segment with the original coupe model that launched in spring 2009 as a 2010 model. The right to purchase one of the first convertibles was recently sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction for $205,000, with all proceeds donated to charity. The 2011 Neiman Marcus Edition Camaro convertibles, a group of 100 exclusive cars with custom-designed elements and priced at $75,000 each, sold out in only three minutes.

The Camaro convertible delivers great refinement, along with uncompromising, coupe-like driving dynamics. Its enhanced body structure helps prevent cowl or steering wheel shake, for a strong, confident feel in all driving conditions. The top has a smooth, tailored fit, with acoustical foam in the headliner that helps deliver a quiet ride with the top up.

Camaro convertible is offered in 1LT/2LT (V-6) and 1SS/2SS (V-8) trim packages and priced from $30,000 MSRP (including $850 destination). Nine production exterior colors are available, with tops offered in black or tan. Rear parking assist is standard on all convertible models.

Strong structure

The Camaro’s architecture was designed to accommodate a convertible model, which means customers enjoy the fun of top-down cruising with coupe-like driving dynamics. Four strategic reinforcements enhance the already-stiff body structure to eliminate common convertible maladies of cowl and steering wheel shake. They include:

A tower-to-tower brace under the hood
A transmission support reinforcement brace
Underbody tunnel brace
Front and rear underbody “V” braces.
“Our goal in development was to make the convertible match the coupe as closely as possible in ride quality, handling and overall performance,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer.

A telling example of the Camaro convertible’s strength is evidenced in its suspension tuning – specifically, the lack of changes between the convertible and coupe models.

“To compensate for the reduced structure of an open car, engineers often will make the suspension softer, making the convertible a boulevard cruiser,” said Oppenheiser. “Instead, we took the more difficult, but better path of bolstering structure rather than softening the suspension. We didn’t change a strut, bushing or spring rate from the Camaro coupe.”

The result is a convertible that preserves nearly all the acceleration, road-holding and performance capabilities of the Camaro coupe.

Additional safety structural reinforcements are designed to improve noise and vibration characteristics, while also contributing to the elimination of cowl/steering wheel shake. They include a hydrofromed tube in the A-pillars, an inner reinforcement bracket in the windshield header, a reinforced front hinge pillar and reinforcements inside the rockers.

The structural changes to the Camaro convertible body give it superior bending and torsional stiffness than its closest competitor, and better torsional stiffness than the BMW 3-Series convertible.
Exceptional top refinement

At the outset, designers and engineers sought to eliminate the common appearance of convertible top support ribs and they succeeded, using composite knuckles rather than aluminum ones, as well as extending the top material below the belt line and revising the top’s stitch lines. The result is a top that has a smooth, taut and carefully tailored appearance that also retains the sleek roofline of the coupe.

The power-folding top retracts in about 20 seconds. It is built in partnership with the same manufacturer as the Corvette convertible top, and operates in a similar manner. That means it folds in a simple “Z” pattern and latches with a single, convenient handle located at the center of the windshield header. Other convertible models in this segment still offer convertible tops with dual latches, forcing drivers into two-hand operations reaching across the car.

Once the latch is turned to the open position, the push of a single button lowers the windows and activates the top. The car doesn’t have to be parked for the top to be activated, allowing for spur-of-the-moment lowering while stopped at a stoplight.

The top is made of thick, durable canvas and it features acoustical headliner material that provides a quiet, coupe-like ride when the top is up. It also incorporates a glass rear window and rear window defogger.

A folding, one-piece tonneau cover is standard on 2LT and 2SS models and optional on 1LT/1SS. It covers the folded top for a finished appearance. An accessory windscreen is available from Chevrolet dealers. It installs behind the front seats to limit wind buffeting when driving with the top down.

Performance

Camaro LT convertible models are offered with a 3.6L direct injection (DI) V-6 that delivers more power through increased efficiency, while maintaining fuel economy and lowering emissions – including a 25-percent drop in cold-start hydrocarbon emissions. It is rated at 312 horsepower (232 kW) and 278 lb.-ft. of torque (370 Nm). Peak fuel economy with the direct injection V-6 is 29 miles per gallon on the highway.

Two 6.2L V-8 engines are offered in Camaro SS models, including the L99 on automatic-equipped vehicles and the LS3 on manual-equipped models. Both engines are derived from the LS3 that debuted on the 2008 Corvette, with an aluminum block (with cast iron cylinder liners) and aluminum cylinder heads. Horsepower for the L99 is 400 (298 kW) and torque is 410 lb.-ft. (556 Nm). The LS3 develops 426 horsepower (318 kW) and 420 lb.-ft. (569 Nm).

The L99 features the fuel-saving Active Fuel Management System, which saves fuel by shutting down half of the engine’s cylinders during certain light-load driving conditions, such as highway cruising.

All Camaro models can be equipped with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The Aisin AY6 six-speed manual is standard with the 3.6L engine, and a Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic is optional. A Tremec TR 6060 six-speed manual is standard on the SS, and the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic is optional.

The OnStar/XM/AM-FM radio antenna moves to the deck lid on LT models without the RS package
The radio antenna is embedded in the rear spoiler on RS-equipped LT and SS models
The trunk lock cylinder is moved to the rear seat area for a cleaner exterior appearance
A new subwoofer design is located in the trunk between the rear seats.
Because the combined OnStar/XM/AM-FM radio antenna is mounted on the roof of coupe models, it had to be relocated on the convertible. On RS-equipped LT models and SS models, which include a rear spoiler, a small “shark fin” OnStar/XM antenna is mounted on the deck lid, while the AM/FM radio antenna is hidden inside the rear spoiler. This patent-pending design creates a sleeker appearance. For LT models without a rear spoiler (without the RS package), the combined antenna is located in the center of the deck lid.

The relocation of the trunk lock cylinder also cleans up the Camaro convertible’s appearance, moving from the panel between the taillamps to a discreet area between the rear seat back cushion and driver’s side interior panel. The change retains full, lockable access to the trunk, with the keyless remote fob also offering easy trunk access.

Finally, the subwoofer – either an eight-inch unit with the base sound system or a 10-inch subwoofer with the available Boston Acoustics system – is relocated from the trunk to an area between the rear seat cushions.

Check out this thread by Camaro Scotty on Modern Camaro for more details!

This team of people former Tier 1 automotive supplier never lost sight of their passion, cars.

Projx of Troy, Michigan, moved from being an automotive supplier to doing design work for military vehicles. The return of the Chevrolet Camaro inspired them to dust off their automotive creativity and come up with the F5 Trans Am Appearance package.

Introduced at SEMA this year, the ready-to-paint kit will fit perfectly on any 2010-2011 Chevrolet Camaro. As of today, the kit consists of the following:

The SEMA show is always a favourite of the musclecar crowd. Be it old or new, shops and manufacturers alike can’t help but use the massive Las Vegas convention centre as a showcase for their most modified machines. And for Chevrolet, that means bringing a whole passel of Camaros. The first, and easily most show-worthy of cars brought by the Bow Tie brand is fittingly named the Red Flash Show Car. Going against the grain of matte finishes and stealthy designs, the car boasts a flamboyant red paint scheme with a matching body kit, offset by grey full-length racing stripes. Boasting an aftermarket intake and exhaust, it’s audible volume should match its visual volume.

The second and third, as production models, are slightly more low key, but both boast an interesting front end package that should soon be appearing on the Camaro’s options list. In blue and powered by the company’s 3.6 litre direct injection V6 is the XM/Accessory Appearance Package, while the graphite car replaces last years’ Synergy Green model. Planning to introduce a new Synergy model with each passing year, Chevy intends to differentiate the Synergy Camaro’s with a variety of exterior and interior colours and appearance packages that will not be available on any other Camaro.

Which brings us to the fourth, and easily most interesting Camaro. Speaking of unavailable, the SSX is Chevrolet’s answer to Ford’s FR500 program that puts factory prepared Mustang race cars in the hands of privateers all over the continent, and boasts more than a few conceptual parts that may (or may not) make it into production. Gratuitious use of carbon fibre throughout, the removal such comforts as sound deadener, the radio, carpet, and the rear seats makes this the lightest of Camaros, while new heads, a dry sump oiling system, and a bigger camshaft put the naturally aspirated 6.2 litre V8’s output at a lofty 524 horsepower. And although there’s little doubt that the SCCA-spec cage won’t be appearing on option lists any time soon, one can’t help but wonder if this track ready Camaro might possess a few hints at the upcoming Z28.

LAS VEGAS - November 3, 2010 - The Chevrolet Camaro has been named the “hottest car” at the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The inaugural SEMA Award recognizes the most accessory-friendly new models, based on the number of vehicles exhibited at the show.

“A booth space is a ballot, and the models these exhibitors have selected represent their vote,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO.

According to SEMA, exhibitors manufacture thousands of products that improve performance, convenience, appearance and comfort. While products are available for every make and model vehicle, exhibitors are investing more into the Chevrolet Camaro than any other car. Consumers, therefore, can expect to find more options for personalizing their Camaro.

“More than any other venue, the cars exhibitors and attendees bring to SEMA embody the passion and excitement of car enthusiasts everywhere,” said John Fitzpatrick, Chevrolet Performance Cars marketing manager. “Based on the sheer number of Camaros displayed on the floor, and parked in the adjacent lots, the Camaro is clearly the hottest car of the show.”